God’s Hope for Your Heart from Luke 10

JESUS IS YOUR FREEDOM FROM REJECTION

“But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you.  Nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near.’ … ‘The one who hears you hears Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me, and the one who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.’”  (Luke 10:10-11, 16)

When Jesus sends His disciples out, He gives them explicit instructions about what to do if and when a town won’t receive their message.  He doesn’t say to ignore it or pretend the rejection didn’t happen.  He doesn’t say to keep coming back and looking for ways to change their minds.

He says to let it go.

Not only that, but He reminds them of something so critical, so crucial to the Gospel mission that it can make or break a person who is trying to share Jesus’ love with others.

It’s not about you; it’s about Him.

If you want to follow Jesus, you will always face the possibility of rejection.  The Gospel says that no one is saved through self-actualization or “achieving their potential,” but through repentance and being born again.  Many people simply don’t want to acknowledge that their sin is so bad that they need a Savior, or that their religious works aren’t good enough for them to save themselves.  They find the message offensive.

So they reject it.

Here’s the good news, though.  When you share the Gospel with someone and they reject it, they are not really rejecting you at all!  In fact, the same truth Jesus gave His disciples then is one He wants to give you now: “The one who rejects you rejects me…”

Have you felt rejected because of your relationship with Jesus?  He is calling you to wipe the dust off your feet, push aside the feelings of personal failure and move on.  This doesn’t mean you don’t keep trying to witness as you’re able, but that you don’t have to take it personally if your offer is refused.

Because it’s not about you; it’s about Him.

As you share Jesus with others, may you be free from the tyranny of false rejection.  May His Spirit remind you that your calling isn’t to make changes in people, but to make introductions for people and let Jesus do the work.  Rest in this today, and may you find hope in this truth: Jesus is your freedom from rejection.

-Pastor Phillip

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